Sadly, John Grady McElrath the founding member and lead singer of the popular 60s band the Swingin’ Medallions passed away in his home due to Parkinson’s disease a few days ago, but we think the man and the band deserve a little love.
The Swingin’ Medallions has one colossal hit called “Double Shot (Of My Baby’s Love)” that hit the charts in 1968. The band got their name from an R&B group called the Swingin’ Travelers, a South Carolina favorite from the early 1960s. Although a few of the members have had success as session musicians after the band broke up, their biggest moment in rock came with the help of Bruce Springsteen; in September of 2009 at a Brue Springsteen concert in Greenville CS, the members of the Swingin’ Medallions were asked on stage to sing their hit “Double Shot (Of My Baby’s Love)” with Bruce and the E Street crew. Evidentially, Bruce loves the song and wanted to honor the local band.